The miniple, whose main office is in Wrexham, is celebrating its fourth anniversary this week and has nine shops in north Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire after its latest agency opened in Whitchurch last month.
Another Polka Dot agency is due to open in Bangor within the next few weeks, while the 11th store is scheduled to make its debut in Rhyl before the end of the year. With the new openings, the company will employ a total of 43 people.
But this is just the start of Polka Dot’s expansion plans, according to director Helen Johnson, who said she hopes to open another six shops during 2018.
“We were really consolidating earlier this year after we opened four shops in five months last year,” she said. “Now we’re growing again and we will be continuing our growth plan throughout 2018 when we’re hoping to open six shops.”
Johnson launched the first Polka Dot agency with business partner Philippa Wilcox in Oswestry on October 11, 2013.
As it reaches its fourth anniversary, Advantage member Polka Dot, a TTG Top 50 Travel Agency for 2017, is also making the finishing touches this week to a new training room at its Wrexham head office, which will be used to train staff from across its agencies.
Looking further to the future, Johnson said she wanted the business to grow at a “steady pace” of five to six new agencies a year over the next five years.
“We will obviously have to look further afield at new towns and have to consider other locations,” added Johnson.
“We keep getting approached by other staff, particularly from multiples, asking if we’re going to be opening in their area.
“So far, every store has been a blank canvas but we may have to consider the acquisition of other shops. We believe in our brand and it doesn’t worry us if there is another agency in the town.”
Johnson added that Polka Dot’s business was based around “quality of service” and the company paid its agents “well above the industry average”, as well as having an incentive and bonus programme for staff.
Both Johnson and Wilcox also spend time on the front counter with customers so they can keep up with the latest sales trends in the market.